Cage for antifriction bearings



May 1, 1928. 1,668,112

H. R. GIBBONS CAGE FOR ANTIFRICTiON BEARINGS Filgd June-4. 1927 Fi g. 3.

' //I/////1//////v///////g!r j W 39 40a kv o 1, Fl 4.

' comp'anying drawin Patented May 1, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1 1,668,112 PATENT OFFICE.

HABOLD B. GIIBBONS, 01" GKATHAM, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

' seen roia nn'rmarcrron BEARINGS.

Application filed June 4,

This invention relates to cages for antifriction bearings and comprises all thefeatures of novelty herein disclosed. An object of the invention is to providean improved, one-piece ca e in which rolling elements can be readi y assembled and held against loss in handlin yet capable of efliclently guiding the rollin elements on their raceways with little frictlon.

To these ends and also to improve general- 1 upon devices of the character indicated theinvention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention, in its broader as acts, is not necessaril limited to the speci 0 forms selected for ustrative purposes in the acin which Flgure 1 is an en view, partly in section, of a cage and bearing.'

Figures 2, 3 and 4 are sections ofbearmgs and cages of modified forms.

Figure 5 is a section of a portion of the cage of Figure 1 on the curved line 5-5 of Figure 6, the rollers being omitted.

Figure 6 is a central section of a portion of the cage and rollers of Flgure 1 In Figure 1, the numerals 2 and 4, respectively, indicate inner and outer, race rmgs for a circular series of rolllng elements 6. In this instance, the race r1n have transversely. curved raceways whic conform to barrel shaped rollers set at an an le. The cage com rises a ring shaped b y portion 8 of en stantially U-shzaped cross section cast'in one-piece with in o ening's' 10 for the rollers. The sides 0 t e ring, beyond the ends of the openindgs comprise curved flanges" 12 exten towards the race rin 2, the edges 14 of the flan es fitting and'ri ing freely on the edges of t e race ring outside the raceway. .15 keeps the cage concentric with the ring and relieves the rollers of the weight of the cage. The outermost face 16 of the body portion 8 lies in a circle through the axes of the rollers, this circle being indicated by the section line 5-5 in Fi re 6, so that the cage, including its side anges 12, lies in an annular space between this circle and the" race ring 2. This enables the rollers to be inserted in the openings in a radial direction toward the rage supporting race ring. The rollers are guided near their ends b the curved edges 18 of the openings whi 1827. Serial 1T0. 198,507.

conform to the rollers, the continuity of the edges being interrupted as at 20 leavm portions 22 which are out of contact wit the rollers. This construction reduces the surface of sliding contact and lets the rollers turn more freel The. portions 22 are extended outward y, in the form of V-shaped lugs, to the opposite. side of the circle through the axes of therollers. After the rollers are inserted by radial movement, the lugs are expanded or divided to form retaining lips or fingers 24 which are normally out of contact with the rollers but which will partly surround and retain the rollers against escape from the guidin openin whenthe cage is handled separate y from t a race rings Bronze is a suitable material for the cage which is pgrticularly intended for use with large size arings.

In Figure 2, the construction is similar but the side flanges 12 ride ,on the ed of the outer race rm and the li s or ngers 24 project inwar' y.- In this instance, the rollers are inserted in the cage by outward radial movement.

In Figure 3, the inner race ring and the outer race rin 32vhave cylindrical race ways for long cy indrical rollers 34 which are held from endwisemovement by end rings 36. The cage, in this instance, has side flanges 38 fitting the inner race ring 80 and there are two sets of lips or fin rs 40, similar to the lips 24 of Figure 1, or retaining the rollers in their openings.

In Figure 4, the construction is similar to Figure 3 but the end rin 36 are placed on the inner race ring an the-flanges 38 of the cage are supported by the outerrace ring. This form also has-two sets of lips or fingers 40 t retain the rollers.

I claim:

A self contained oneiece cage for rotatably retaining a eirc ar series of rolling elementsto be run on av race ring, said cage comprising a ring shaped body portion of substantia 1y, U-shape cross section with guiding openings provided therein for the rolling elements, the sides of the ring beyond the ends of the openings comprising curved flanges extended towards the race ring to fit and run freely thereon the ring wit its flanges lying in an annu ar space between said supporting race ring and the circle through the axes'of the rolling elements,

whereby therolling elements may be inserted said lugs being ex ansible to retain the rollin the guidin openings in a radial 'direcing elements 1n t e openina; but normally tion towards the cage-supp0rting race ring, lying out of contact therewit substantially the edges of the openings guiding the rolling as described. elements, and lugs extending from the ring In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my to points at the opposite side of the circle signature.

through the axes -of the rolling elements, HAROLD R. GIBBONS. 

